Combination pouring and sifting closure for containers



y 1951 v. L. LECCESE 2,554,710

COMBINATION POURING AND SIFTING CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. a, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY W @TTORNEY May 29, 1951 v. L. .LECCESE COMBINATION POURING AND SIFTING CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1947 A! 2 ME VC MC E L L T N E C N BY W y /lwbmvzx Patented May 29, 1951 COM INATION POURIIKTG:v SIFTING, CLOSURE FOR CQNT INERS.

Vincent L. Leccese, West NewYork, N. J assignor to King Gonverters, Inc.,.Denville, N. .L, a. cornq aiion of w Je Application August 8, 194-7, SerialNo. 767,492 l Claims. (01. 222E555) This invention relates to closures for containers, such as cans, that are used for packaging and dispensing dry, fluent substances such as powder, salt, etc., and more particularly the invention contemplates a closure by which the contents of a container can be poured and sifted, selectively.

One object of the invention is to provide a I pouring or sifting closure for containers which shall embody novel and. improved features of construction, whereby the closure shall comprise only three simple and relatively inexpensive parts which can be assembled easily and quickly into a strong, reliable and easily operable pouring or sifting unit having a fiat top to facilitate stacking.

Another object is to provide a closure of the character described which shall: include a main section having a pouring opening and. sifting orifices, a valve section having a pouring hole and sifting apertures to cooperate respectively with said pouring opening and said sifting ori fices of said main section, and. novel and improved visual and audible means for stopping and releasably locking said. valve plate in posi tion to close both said pouring opening and said sifting apertures.

A further object is to. provide such a closure wherein said sifting orifices and said pouring opening can be opened in succession upon movement of said valve plate, in one direction, and novel and improved; visual. and audible means are included for releasably stopping said valve plate in the position to, open said sifting orifices.

Other objects are to. provide in a closure of this character a novel and improved handle for the valve plate, whereby. the plate can. be oper.-.- ated with a minimum of effortand attention. and which can be. located. either flatwise in an. outoi-way position approximately in the plane of the top of the closure or can be. bent into an upright position at the will of the user; and: to obtain other advantages and resultsthat will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, 'in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of:- a combination pouring and sifting closure for containers. embodying my invention, showing the closure. in completely closed position;

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing thepouring opening fully opened;

Figure 3 is a similarview, showing the pour ing opening closed, and the sifting orifices open;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional' view through the closure and a portion of a container to which the closure is attached, taken approximatelyon the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken approximately on the plane of the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a similar View, taken on of the line 66 of Figure 3;

Figure .7 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane of the line l'l of Figure 5 and looking in the direction or" the arrows;

Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary side elevational views of the container, with portions broken away, approximately on the planes of the lines 88 and 99 of Figure l;

Figure 101s a bottom plan view of the main section of the closure, before application to a container;

Figure- 11 is a similar view of the top piece, and

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the valve plate.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the reference character I designates the main section of the closure which is in the form of a ring, preferably of metal, having a flat rim portion 2 inwardly of which is the plane an annular cylindrical wall 3- disposed approximately perpendicularly to the general plane of the ring. The outer perimeter of the ring has an inturned flange 4 for cooperation with the wall 3 in securing the closure to the wall 5 of a container, for example, a can formed of cardboard, metal, or other suitable material. As shown, the wall 5 of the container is clamped between the flange 4 and the wall 3 of the closure section I. Inwardly of the wall 3, the 010 sure section has a portion 6 disposed approxi mately parallel to the plane of the rim 2 and inwardly of said portion 6 the ring has an annular concentric groove 1 the inner wall 8 of which is cylindrical and has its axis approximately perpendicular to the plane of the rim 2 and passing through the center of said rim and terminates in an inwardly projecting flange 9 which is preferably fiat and also parallel to but disposed below the plane of the rim 2 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a valve plate [0- and a top piece or cap II which are mounted on the'wall 8 and flange 9 so that the plane of the upper surface or the cap or top piece H is substantially flush or coincident with the plane of the rim 2.

' The cap or top piece ll comprises a main flat portion 12. and. a perimetral flange l3. which snugly frictionally engages the outer surface of the wall 8 of the main section I. The cap is drawn with a flare to the edge of the wall 8 to provide a positive interlocking action when assembled over the valve plate l and said wall 8, and the height of the cap is calculated to provide the necessary clearance for the valve plate between the flange 9 'and the main portion l2 of the cap plate to permit free rotation of the valve plate.

The main portion l2 of the cap has a pouring opening [4 and a plurality of sifting orifices l5, said opening and orifices being disposed closely adjacent the walls of the container atapproximately diametrically opposite sides of the cap to facilitate removal of the contents of the container. The valve plate is formed with a pouring hole 16 and sifting apertures I! to cooperate respectively with the pouring opening M and sifting orifices l5 so that the valve plate can be located to completely close both the pouring opening l4 and all of the orifices l5, and said orifices and the pouring opening can be opened in succession by rotation of the valve plate continuously in one direction. The valve plate has an integral finger-piece l8 at one side edge of the pouring hole It, and the pouring opening M. has notches l9 and 2D in its opposite side edges to receive the finger-piece when the valve plate is in the position to completely close the pouring opening and the sifting orifices and the position to completely open the pouring opening and completely close the sifting orifices, respectively. The sifting apertures in the valve plate are 50 related to the sifting orifices in the cap and to the pouring hole IS in the valve plate, that when the valve plate is moved in the direction to open the sifting orifices, the fingerpiece is partially moved out of the notch l9 in the edge of the pouring opening but overlies said notch sufficiently to prevent the escape of the contents of the container therethrough. The notch permits movement of the valve plate a sufiicient distance to ensure complete closure of the sifting orifices when the pouring opening is completely open. Preferably, the finger-piece normally lies flatwise approximately in the plane of the top of the closure, as shown in the drawings, but it may be bent away from the top piece into an angular or upright position, as desired. To provide a strong but releasable visible and audible lock for holding the valve plate in closed position, the valve plate is formed with a protuberance 2! that projects from the surface in contact with the portion l2 of the cap, while the cap has an opening 22 in which said protuberance 2i seats when the valve plate is closed. The resiliency of the parts causes a snap action as the protuberance enters the opening, thereby producing a click to audibly indicate that the valve plate is closed. The visibility of the protuberance through the opening also visually indicates the closure of the valve plate, as is shown in Figure 1. For yieldingly stopping the movement of the valve plate when the sifting orifices have been opened, the valve plate is formed with a second protuberance 23 which extends into a slot 24 in the cap. This protuberance abuts one end of the slot when the valve plate has been moved to a position to open the sifting orifices, as shown in Figure 3, and thus audibly and visually indicates when the sitting orifices have been opened.

Movement of the valve plate into the positions to open and close the pouring opening is limited :by engagement of the finger-piece l8 with the 4 edges of the pouring opening M, as shown in Figures 2 and 1, respectively.

It will be observed that the closure includes only three simple parts that can be easily and quickly formed of sheet metal and can be rapidly assembled in simple operations with a minimum of difficulty and without the use of fasteners, such as rivets. The flanged construction of the main section I not only facilitates the application of the cap thereto but also substantially reenforces the whole closure against flexing. The valve plate is easily rotatable, and the handle or finger-piece I8 is so positioned that the maximum of leverage is obtained. during rotation of the valve plate which makes operation of the valve plate possible with a minimum of effort and tension. Complete closure of the sifting orifices is ensured when the valve plate is swung to either completely open or completely close the pouring opening. The lock 2|, 22 prevents accidental opening of the closure, and the stop 23, 24 facilitates the opening of the sifting orifices.

While I have shown and described the invention as embodied in certain details of construction, it should be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention and that many modifications and changes can be made in the structure of the closure within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A closure for containers, comprising an annular main section to be mounted on a container and having an outer rim portion disposed in a flat plane, a cylindrical wall spaced inwardly from said rim portion whose axis is disposed at an angle to the plane of said rim portion and passing through the center of said rim, and a flange on said wallportion whose plane is approximately parallel to the plane of said rim portion, a valve plate slidably rotatably mounted on said flange, and a cap having a fiat portion overlying said valve plate and a perimetral flange frictionally telescopically secured upon said wall and having discharge openings controlled by said valve plate, the plane of said flange on the wall portion being below the plane of said flat rim portion a distance equal to the combined thicknesses of said valve plate and said flat portion of said cap, whereby the outer surface of said flat portion is approximately flush with the outer surface of said rim to form a flat top.

2. A closure for containers, comprising an an nular main section to be mounted on a container and having an outer rim portion disposed in a flat plane, a cylindrical wall spaced inwardly from said rim portion whose axis is disposed at an angle to the plane of said rim portion and passing through the center of said rim, a flange on said wall portion whose plane is approximately parallel to the plane of said rim portion, a valve plate slidably rotatably mounted on said flange, a cap having a flat portion overlying said valve plate and a perimetral flange frictionally telescopically secured upon said wall and having discharge openings controlled by said valve plate, said discharge openings comprising sifting orifices and a pouring opening at diametrically opposite portions of said fiat portion of said cap all of which are normally closed by said valve plate when the latter is in one position, and said valve plate having sifting apertures and a pouring hole to register in succession with said siftin orifices and said pouring. opening respectively when said valve plate is moved in one direction,

said valve plate also having a protuberance on its side next said flat portion of the cap and said fiat portion having an abutment to be engaged by said protuberance to interrupt movement of said valve plate in said direction when said sifting apertures are in register with said sifting orifices, the resiliency of said parts yieldingly permitting said protuberance to be forced past said abutment for continued movement of said valve plate to bring said pouring hole and said pouring opening into register.

3. A closure for containers, comprising an annular main section to be mounted on a container and having an outer rim portion disposed in a flat plane, a cylindrical wall spaced inwardly from said rim portion whose axis is disposed at an angle to the plane of said rim portion and passing through the center of said rim, a flange on said wall portion whose plane is approximately parallel to the plane of said rim portion, a valve plate slidably rotatably mounted on said flange, and a cap having a fiat portion overlying said valve plate and a perimetral flange frictionally telescopically secured upon said wall and having discharge openings controlled by said valve plate, said discharge openings comprising sifting orifices and a pouring opening at diametrically opposite portions of said cap all of which are normally closed by said valve plate when the latter is in one position, and said valve plate having sifting apertures and a pouring hole to register in succession with said sifting orifices and said pouring opening respectively when said valve plate is moved in one direction, said valve plate also having a finger piece at one edge of said pouring hole for rotating the plate, said finger piece normally overlying the cap adjacent the edge of said pouring opening when the latter is closed by said plate, and said pouring opening having notches in its edges to provide clearance for said finger piece for completely closing and completely opening said pouring opening.

4. A closure for containers, comprising an annular main section to be mounted on a container and having an outer rim portion disposed in a flat plane, a cylindrical wall spaced inwardly from said rim portion whose axis is disposed at an angle to the plane of said rim portion and passing through the center of said rim, and a flange on said wall portion whose plane is approximately parallel to the plane of said rim portion, a valve plate slidably rotatably mounted on said flange, a cap having a flat portion overlying said valve plate and a perimetral flange frictionally telescopically secured upon said wall and having discharge openings controlled by said valve plate, said discharge openings comprising sifting orifices and a pouring opening at diametrically opposite portions of said cap all of which are normally closed by said valve plate when the latter is in one position, and said valve plate having sifting apertures and a pouring hole to register in succession with said sifting orifices and said pouring opening respectively when said valve plate is moved in one direction, said valve plate also having a finger piece at one edge of said pouring hole for rotating the plate, said finger piece normally overlying the cap adjacent the edge of said pouring opening when the latter is closed by said plate, said valve plate being formed of sheet metal, said finger piece projecting integrally from one edge of said pouring hole to normally lie flatwise over said outer surface of said cap adjacent the edge of said pouring opening when the latter is closed by said plate, and said finger piece being bendable into an upright position at the will of the user.

VINCENT L. LECCESEL REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 808,362 Harbeck Dec. 26, 1905 810,211 Marcuse Jan. 16, 1906 938,161 Messinger Oct. 26, 1909 1,153,378 Frankenberg Sept. 14, 1915 1,215,997 Schenck Feb. 13, 1917 1,386,043 Wilson Aug. 2, 1921 1 1 9 E a g Wm-W y 1 

